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Training Day for School Teachers and Choir Directors
Thursday 23 October 2025 - 10:30-15:30 - £30 - Synod Hall St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral
Music educator Dan Turner returns to lead a day of inspiring, tailored workshops for both primary and post-primary teachers, focusing on creative approaches to choral direction and repertoire choices. Each session will be bespoke to the needs of the group, and lunch will be provided.
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Come and Sing with John Rutter
Saturday 18 April 2026 - 15.00 - St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast
Join us in Belfast for a special Come and Sing event led by John Rutter – one of the world’s most revered choral composers and Patron of the Charles Wood Festival. Staged as part of the Festival’s events to mark the centenary of Charles Wood’s death, singers of all levels are invited to come together and sing some of Rutter’s most iconic works, alongside a few surprises!
Non-ticketed events:
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Choral Evensong
Tuesday 12th August - 17:00
The Charles Wood Singers lead worship in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral under the direction of David Hill. Music to include:
Introit: Palestrina - Exsultate Deo
Responses: Byrd - Preces & Responses
Canticles: Byrd - The 2nd Service
Anthem: Byrd - Sing Joyfully
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Sung Mass
Tuesday 12th August - 19:30
The Charles Wood Girls’ Choir make their first Festival appearance in the beautiful setting of St Malachy’s Church, directed by Christopher Gray and accompanied by organist Luke Bond. Music includes Rheinberger’s Gloria and Sanctus from Missa Puerorum, Mozart’s Agnus Dei from the ‘Coronation’ Mass and He Delivered The Poor by Parry.
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BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong
Wednesday 13th August -16:00
The Charles Wood Singers lead worship in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, under the direction of David Hill. The service will be recorded for broadcast in BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong strand on Wednesday 3rd September at 15.00.
Introit: Bairstow - Let All Mortal Flesh
Responses: Burk - Preces & Responses
Canticles: Blair - Evening Service in B minor
Anthem: Rutter - Lord, Thou Has Searched Me Out
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Care Home Visits
Saturday 16th August - 15:00
Reminiscence will be at the heart of the afternoon, as the Charles Wood Singers visit 10 care homes across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area. They’ll be bringing residents popular folksongs that they’ll instantly recognise and enjoy.
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Community Choir Showcase & Competition
Saturday 16th August - 16:00
Enjoy our 5 community choirs – Ballyclare Male Voice Choir, The Big Belfast Choir, Cookstown Youth Choir, Dungannon Choral Society and Portadown Male Voice Choir – as they demonstrate their love of singing and provide a soundtrack for the city across 2 colourful hours. Their singing will be rewarded with a BBQ before the Community Prom. All are welcome.
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The Community Prom
Saturday 16th August - 18:30
The Charles Wood Singers return alongside the 5 community choirs for a free open-air concert in the verdant surroundings of Armagh’s historic Mall. Bring a picnic to enjoy as the choirs entertain you, followed by a presentation of awards from the afternoon’s Community Choir Showcase and a ‘Big Sing’ massed performance. Pets welcome!
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Sung Mass
Sunday 17th August - 11:00
The Charles Wood Singers lead morning worship in the majestic surroundings of St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, with music including Palestrina’s Missa Assumpta est Maria, Ronan McDonagh’s Open Me The Gates Of Holiness, as well as Amy Beach’s Peace I Leave With You.
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Festal Evensong
Sunday 17th August - 15:00
The Charles Wood Singers round off the 2025 Festival with a final flourish of sacred gems including Stanford’s Evening Canticles in A, Wood’s Expectans Expectavi and O Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem by Howells.
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BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship and BBC Radio Ulster Morning Service
Sunday 31st August - BBC Radio 4 (8.10am) and BBC Radio Ulster (9.00am)
Hear the Charles Wood Singers as they broadcast to an audience of over 1.6 million in BBC Radio 4’s Sunday Worship and BBC Radio Ulster’s Morning Service. Pre-recorded on Saturday 16th August, Ven Dr Peter Thompson leads worship from St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, with the sermon given by The Most Revd John McDowell, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. The Charles Wood Singers are conducted by David Hill, and the Festival’s Organ Scholar, Pascal Bachmann, accompanies.
Notice: Photography and videography are taking place during the Charles Wood Festival. Your presence at the event implies your consent to being filmed and photographed, and to the use of your image, voice, and likeness in any promotional materials, media coverage, or other content related to the festival. If you do not wish to be filmed or photographed, please inform the event staff upon entry.